U.S. prepares for casualties in Africa

WND ^ | April 28, 2013 | Steve Peacock

[Steve Peacock]

Airborne contractor-medics to be on stand-by from Kenya to Cameroon

The extrication of U.S. Special Forces injured in African military ventures soon will provide contractors with an additional revenue stream, now that the Obama administration plans to keep such vendors on stand-by, 24/7, for cross-continent airborne mobilization.

While the Pentagon’s reliance on private vendors to support international military operations is nothing new, plans to station such providers specific to such a large swath of Africa does deviate from prior procurement actions.

The Trans-Sahara Short Take-Off and Landing Airlift Support initiative will rely on outside assistance in the event that soldiers of U.S. Special Operations Command-Africa sustain traumatic medical emergencies, thereby requiring urgent transportation out of hostile zones.

[BenLurkin]

Jeez. Just napalm the Muslim bastards from the air.

[marron]

Interesting article, thanks for posting.

My reaction is mixed. On the one hand, I find this kind of thing interesting, the blurring of the line between military and specialist civilians.

On the other hand, I can’t help but wonder that there is money to pay contractors but no money to pay to maintain this capability in-house so to speak.

I always wonder if there are other considerations. Maybe contracting them allows the commander to have direct control without competing with other commands, or something. Or the owner of the company is well-connected. Or this is a way of keeping skilled people in the game and not losing their expertise after they have officially retired. Or some combination of the above.

I also find this article interesting because Africa is going to be the next theater for the Great Game. Al Qaeda, Chinese, you name it, we’ll all be there.

[sandboxshooter]

Cause we’re cheaper in the long run...and there’s LOTS of expertise after the last decade with guys that have retired or left the military.